rogue Meaning, Definition & Usage

Rogue noun

Etymology

F. rogue proud, haughty, supercilious; cf. Icel. hrkr a rook, croaker (cf. Rook a bird), or Armor. rok, rog, proud, arogant.

Definitions

1. (Eng.Law) A vagrant; an idle, sturdy beggar; a vagabond; a tramp. ✍ The phrase rogues and vagabonds is applied to a large class of wandering, disorderly, or dissolute persons. They were formerly punished by being whipped and having the gristle of the right ear bored with a hot iron.
2. A deliberately dishonest person; a knave; a cheat.

   The rogue and fool by fits is fair and wise. Pope.

3. One who is pleasantly mischievous or frolicsome; hence, often used as a term of endearment.

   Ah, you sweet little rogue, you! Shak.

4. An elephant that has separated from a herd and roams about alone, in which state it is very savage.
5. (Hort.) A worthless plant occuring among seedlings of some choice variety.

Rogue intransitive verb

Definitions

1. To wander; to play the vagabond; to play knavish tricks. Obs. Spenser.

Rogue transitive verb

Definitions

1. To give the name or designation of rogue to; to decry. Obs. Cudworth.
2. (Hort.) To destroy (plants that do not come up to a required standard).